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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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 Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:47 am Post subject: Why No Korean Studies at Cambridge? |
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CAMBRIDGE, England _ Like an arrow, time has been passing quickly. Nearly seven months have passed since I started a new life here in England. Because it�s an island, it is frequently windy here, so there is plenty of fresh air and the sky is often clear, especially after it has rained.
My preferred way to feel Mother Nature is to stand barefoot on the grass and observe the glittering stars scattered in the night sky. It is an experience that enables me to feel communion with the universe.
My daughter and son have begun to chat in English, albeit still with many clumsy expressions. They are largely meeting my expectations for the improvement.
What makes me feel the most regret, though, is the fact that Korea remains so little known here or in other European nations although they seem to have a fair understanding of our neighboring countries, China and Japan.
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Most English people seem unaware that Korea is one of the world's top 10 biggest economies and a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
They also don't know that Korea is an information and technology power equipped with an ultra-speed Internet network across the nation, that it�s the biggest shipbuilder and that it has a well-educated population.
Most embarrassing is that they regard Korea's leading enterprises like Samsung, LG and SK as Japanese companies. I believe many of them are even ignorant that Korea exists.
What are the reasons? Korea's image overseas has remained negative. When it comes to Korea, many seem to think about the world's only national division, lingering poverty, the legacy of former dictatorial regimes coupled with fierce demonstrations that can destabilize the industrial sector.
The Korean government has failed in the past to make systematic efforts to enhance the national image.
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When I first came here, I needed to fill in various forms to get my children enrolled in schools. There were many questionnaires, and one of them was about ethnic background.
Examples covered various peoples all around the world including Anglo Saxon, Celt, German and Latin in Europe and Indian, Chinese and Japanese in Asia. But there was no Korean.
This is absurd as Korea is an independent state with a unique culture, history, language and, most importantly, its own ethnic background.
Upset, I wrote down the word ``Korean'' on these forms in bold letters.
Many Chinese students are highly active here because of assistance from the government and Chinese companies.
I sometimes feel frightened to see China focusing on raising future leaders with close cooperation between the government and businesses and with a long-term perspective.
And my anxiety further intensifies with China's recent move to distort the history of the Korean Peninsula and its northeastern region.
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http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/200609/kt2006092221324054090.htm |
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laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:57 am Post subject: |
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Korea is as dumb as a doorknob when it comes to promoting their country. One of Japan's main exports is culture, it's hard for most countries to compete for attention  China is the next scary thing to most Westerners outside of Islam, and hence is more well known. Those are just things off the top of my head ... |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:06 am Post subject: Re: Why No Korean Studies at Cambridge? |
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| Smee wrote: |
| What makes me feel the most regret, though, is the fact that Korea remains so little known here or in other European nations although they seem to have a fair understanding of our neighboring countries, China and Japan. |
What a whining little biatch. |
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pdxsteve
Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 5:45 am Post subject: Re: Why No Korean Studies at Cambridge? |
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| gang ah jee wrote: |
| Smee wrote: |
| What makes me feel the most regret, though, is the fact that Korea remains so little known here or in other European nations although they seem to have a fair understanding of our neighboring countries, China and Japan. |
What a whining little biatch. |
Yeah, I think foreigners living in Korea have more problems than she has had living in England. She's worried about books and maps and questionnaires.
-- Why doesn't my ARC number work on most Korean websites? I can't even order a freakin' Pizza Hut pizza online. I can't register my cell phone for online access to the bill. I can't view my credit card statement online. Koreans can do it all.
-- Why can't we foreigners get debit/ATM cards that work in other countries? Sometimes, we do like to travel and not carry huge amounts of cash in our pockets to do so.
-- Why is our working visa "owned" by our employer, unlike most other countries where it is "owned" by the holder?
I could go on and on, of course, but I'm leaving Korea next week (after teaching here for over three years) and I just don't care anymore. |
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jaganath69
Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 6:29 am Post subject: |
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| I'm sure there aren't options of the ethnic background section of the forms for Australian, Mongolian, Inuit, Kalahari Bushman, Taureg, Cree Indian or many others either. She needs to get a grip. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:11 am Post subject: |
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In part at least, the writer is right. Korea doesn't get the attention and respect the 10th, 11th or 12th largest economy should be getting. But I think it's their own fault.
Note how the writer mentions that people think Korea is the only divided nation. It isn't true. Not by a long stretch. And I doubt most regular folks in the world think it is.
The problem is that Korea has failed so far to produce political leaders with an international vision. Everything is Korea-centered. I think it's the result of the national inferiority complex.
Another contributing factor is demonstrated by Arirang TV. Someone mentioned Japan's export of its culture. Does Japan's international channel constantly yammer on about Japanese culture, or does it present Japanese culture in a self-confident and un-self-conscious manner? |
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Smee
Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:33 am Post subject: |
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| Most embarrassing is that they regard Korea's leading enterprises like Samsung, LG and SK as Japanese companies. I believe many of them are even ignorant that Korea exists. |
. . . or that most Koreans consider Family Mart and Lotteria as Korean companies 
I do complain sometimes about the lack of Korean Studies programs back home, and about the lack of inclusion of Korean stuff in many Asian Studies programs. But I view this articles as the author wanting attention for his country, in typical inferiority-complex style. And while Samsung, Hyundai, LG et al are powerful, influential companies, the fact remains that South Korea doesn't have much of an influence outside of South Korea. While there's the desire to promote its international image and to become a greater "hub"---  ---for everything, South Korea is still inwardly-focused.
It really ought not to be surprising if people think of the Korean War, or of prostitution, or of baby exporting, when they think of South Korea. It's not flattering, true, but these things are part of South Korea's international image. Having no "Korean" box to check on an application ought to be the least of his (I think it's a guy) worries if s/he's interested in making South Korea stronger, better. Once again, there's a complete lack of realistic self-awareness. |
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gang ah jee
Joined: 14 Jan 2003
Location: city of paper
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:39 am Post subject: |
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| Nouveau riche on a national scale. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:55 am Post subject: |
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| Well, Ya-Ta Boy, there are several reasons why South Korea does not get the international recognition that you'd expect from a country that has one of the world's top 15 economies. Of the top of my head...South Korean has only become an 'economic power' in the last 20 years, probably not long enough yet to build a strong image. Another thing is that South Korea is not well situated geographically. Its one border is shared with North Korea (which probably harms South Korea's image, whether it be as a result of fear or confusion). It's also right in between China and Japan (the countries that make pretty much everything found in Western stores). Another reason that it's easily overlooked when you look on the globe is that its territory is relatively small next to it's neighbors. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 8:05 am Post subject: |
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| Smee wrote: |
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| Most embarrassing is that they regard Korea's leading enterprises like Samsung, LG and SK as Japanese companies. I believe many of them are even ignorant that Korea exists. |
. . . or that most Koreans consider Family Mart and Lotteria as Korean companies
I do complain sometimes about the lack of Korean Studies programs back home, and about the lack of inclusion of Korean stuff in many Asian Studies programs. But I view this articles as the author wanting attention for his country, in typical inferiority-complex style. And while Samsung, Hyundai, LG et al are powerful, influential companies, the fact remains that South Korea doesn't have much of an influence outside of South Korea. While there's the desire to promote its international image and to become a greater "hub"--- ---for everything, South Korea is still inwardly-focused.
It really ought not to be surprising if people think of the Korean War, or of prostitution, or of baby exporting, when they think of South Korea. It's not flattering, true, but these things are part of South Korea's international image. Having no "Korean" box to check on an application ought to be the least of his (I think it's a guy) worries if s/he's interested in making South Korea stronger, better. Once again, there's a complete lack of realistic self-awareness. |
But, becoming a 'hub' when you are next to China and Japan would help South Korea remain competitive...problem is that it's nearly impossible to achieve. There are three very important factors that place South Korea at a disadvantage when it comes time to attract multinationals that want to open regional offices. For one, the South Korean economy is dwarved by the Chinese and Japanese and it's unlikely it will pass either of them. Furthermore, the distance between China and Japan is neglectable (so there's little need for a 'hub' situated in between these two countries)...And, finally, there's North Korea, the only country which shares a border with South Korea. |
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Mashimaro
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: location, location
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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| I think Oxford used to have a Korean studies program, but I believe it was canned. |
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bobbyhanlon
Joined: 09 Nov 2003
Location: 서울
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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yes it was dropped, due to a lack of demand. when i was there i never heard of a single person taking korean studies, and i only ever knew about the course after the fuss that was made when it was dropped.
really though, as much as i like korea, why would anyone want a degree in korean studies? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| It's also right in between China and Japan (the countries that make pretty much everything found in Western stores). |
I know there is a downside to this, but it should also be a major advantage. If Korea really wanted to be a hub, it has a perfect location. It's surprising that the international banking industry here is so weak when it could be world-class, sitting between two of the very largest economies in the world and with a strong and growing local economy.
Political leaders with an international vision would have set up the laws that promote a sound banking system long ago. Korea survives only because of trade. Why then are free trade deals so difficult to achieve here? How many years did it take to get the one with Chile? It's lack of visionary leadership. |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 1:54 am Post subject: |
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I would have to say Japan is probably in more econmic trouble than Korea is in the future. Considering that most Asian nations still hold a deep mistrust of Japan, most Asian businesses will never consider placing a significant portion of their business in Japan. Many European and American companies are unaware of this. But they will be if customers in the rest of Asia lament the fact they are paying to much attention to Japan. Japan's economic future is pretty much stagnate. Japan basically has no friends in Asia (the lonely rich kid). No doubt Japan's standard of living is high and of course will probably stay among the highest for a long time to come.
As for Korea's ecnomic future, the key is when unification is going to occur and how they handle it. Until the two Korea's are unified, Korea's growth will be pretty much closely parallel Japan's. I think the earlier unification occurs, the better off Korea will be. The later it happens, the more expensive it will be to get North Korea up to South Korea's standards. |
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jaganath69
Joined: 17 Jul 2003
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| Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:09 am Post subject: |
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| jvalmer wrote: |
I would have to say Japan is probably in more econmic trouble than Korea is in the future. Considering that most Asian nations still hold a deep mistrust of Japan, most Asian businesses will never consider placing a significant portion of their business in Japan. Many European and American companies are unaware of this. But they will be if customers in the rest of Asia lament the fact they are paying to much attention to Japan. Japan's economic future is pretty much stagnate. Japan basically has no friends in Asia (the lonely rich kid). No doubt Japan's standard of living is high and of course will probably stay among the highest for a long time to come.
As for Korea's ecnomic future, the key is when unification is going to occur and how they handle it. Until the two Korea's are unified, Korea's growth will be pretty much closely parallel Japan's. I think the earlier unification occurs, the better off Korea will be. The later it happens, the more expensive it will be to get North Korea up to South Korea's standards. |
Two things to note. Japan has a lot of clout, particularly in SE Asia where its massive investment and institutional largesse, through the likes of the ADB, have earned it a good reputation.
Second, The unification paradigm you have suggested doesn't take into account the prefered method for most in the South, one that allows NK development under a two systems model, thus helping the North catch up over a 20-30 year period. Read Selig Harrison for a rundown on that. |
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